Asia markets mostly fall as investors await China LPR, Japan inflation data this week

Asia-Pacific stocks were mostly lower Monday as markets kickstarted what ING calls a “quiet” week for economic data from the region.

Key data this week from Asia will include China’s loan prime rate, set to be released Wednesday. ING said no change is expected in China’s LPR, with the one-year rate currently at 3.1% and the five-year LPR at 3.6%.

Japan will release trade data on Tuesday and October headline inflation numbers on Friday, while Australia’s central bank on Tuesday will release minutes of its meeting earlier this month.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 1.16% in early trade, while the broad-based Topix was down 0.65%.

South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.06%, while the small-cap Kosdaq slid 0.62%.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 started the day down 0.33%.

Futures for Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index stood at 19,458, pointing to a stronger open compared to the HSI’s close of 19,426.34.